An advocacy group late Thursday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block insurance companies from refusing to take payments from a federal program that helps HIV and AIDS patients.

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Lambda Legal earlier filed complaints with federal agencies after Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana said it would stop taking payments March 1 from unrelated third parties, including the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS program.

The Louisiana Health Cooperative said it also would stop taking such payments and a third company, Vantage Health Plan, said it's considering doing so.

Spokesman John Maginnis said Blue Cross/Blue Shield has not seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

At a news conference, a Lambda Legal attorney said the companies will be violating Affordable Care Act provisions against denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.